>I'm not saying a tight 4
>can't make it -- but
>I do take exception to
>Foa Foa as an example
>because I am convinced the
>producers helped Russell -- no
>evidence, but I believe it.

Since I agree with you about production help, I'll amend that statement and use the Jalapao 3 as an example of how an alliance can take down a splintered group.

>What I mean is, I think
>Benry, Holly, Jane & Fabio
>are closer than they are
>showing.

Maybe we can revisit this post-season because what has been shown is the opposite: Benry and Fabio were ready to vote out Jane and all the women just the day before.

>Further, the Brenda alliance wasn't
>exactly "tight" either -- in
>the voting clip and an
>insider clip Sash talks about
>the fact that Brenda was
>planning to turn on him.
>So there was def. trouble
>in paradise.

Everybody talks about voting out everybody else. A smart player would have talked to Brenda and realized she was just worried that all the guys had been together on reward (another thing I think the producers fixed, btw). A smart player would have told Na'Onka: "We will vote out Brenda but now is not the time." Survivor 101: Eliminate those outside your alliance. If Sash had saved Brenda, either by giving her his idol or by reasoning with Nay, he wouldn't have had to worry about her turning on him any time soon.

>Also, I don't see the HII
>as putting a target on
>Sash's back --he has been
>using it for protection more
>than anything else -- if
>he gave it up, he
>would be voted out tout
>de suite.

HIIs always put target on the backs of their owners. A smart group can flush it so easily that it's almost worthless when it is isn't a secret. Sash would have been voted out tout de suite après!

>And, I actually think NaOnka turning
>on Brenda as a smart
>move.

Certainly, I agree. My point is that it was WAY too early. Benry, Fabio and Jane had to go first and the beauty of it is that it was Brenda's plan and Brenda would have received the blame from 3 jurors. THEN you eliminate Brenda and those jurors LOVE you!

Now, Nay, Holly and Sash have to do the dirty work themselves...or they get their own exit ticket. Listening to the recap of the episode told me that Marty's plan is still in effect and Marty's plan was boys sticking together. Nay and Holly just gave them back the numbers.